Date:21/10/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/10/21/stories/2009102154250300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli

Non-degradable plastic waste sent to factory

Staff Reporter

To be used as a ‘supplement fuel’ along with coal in cement factory

Mayor A.L. Subramanian flags off ‘first load’
Garbage generated under civic body limit

TIRUNELVELI: Corporation Mayor A.L. Subramanian on Tuesday flagged off the ‘first load’ of the non-degradable plastic waste segregated from the garbage generated under the limit of the civic body over the past few days to the cement factory on the outskirts of the city to be used as a ‘supplement fuel’ along with coal, the regular fuel.

The highly hazardous waste is being sent to the cement manufacturing unit as part of the tripartite agreement reached recently among the corporation, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and India Cements Limited.

According to an estimate, 285 tonnes of solid waste is being generated in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin Corporations and Nagercoil municipality everyday and the rag-pickers and the conservancy workers segregate the recyclable plastic from the garbage. After this segregation, 5.30 tonnes of plastic, which cannot be used for any purpose and also cannot be destroyed, poses serious threat to the environment.

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, in a bid to manage this hazardous waste scientifically, held lengthy discussions recently with the representatives of cement manufacturing units across the State on using this toxic waste as a ‘supplement fuel’ along with coal - the regular source of energy.

As the management of India Cements Limited, having its manufacturing unit at Sankar Nagar on the periphery of the city, came forward to use it, the first consignment was sent.

Corporation Commissioner K. Baskaran, zone chairpersons S.S. Mohamed Maideen of Melapalayam, S. Viswanathan of Tirunelveli and a couple of councillors were present.